We reached the small town just before dusk.

  Not sure why they called it small. It was bigger than I expected. Rows of sand-built homes reinforced with metal plating, brick-and-metal storefronts packed close together. No yards. No open space. Just survival stacked on survival.

  The streets were empty.

  No kids. No vendors. No noise.

  Just four mechs standing guard at the main intersection like statues carved from war.

  “Why are we even here protecting this place?” Lexi muttered over comms.

  Frank chimed in next. “Word is this town controls the master water line. Feeds all the linked settlements around here.”

  “Who really cares,” Lexi said.

  “Orders are orders,” Tamala replied.

  That line hit harder than it should’ve.

  Lance used to say that all the time.

  Orders are orders.

  I missed him. Missed my squad. Missed my family. I was sure they hated me now. Hell—maybe they should.

  Carl cut in. “Just finished talking to the local squad leaders. They’ve got morning watch. We take night watch.”

  A pause.

  “You can park your mechs in Bay Warehouse Two. There’s an inn across the street. Squad leader here swears it’s decent. You’re free to roam, but I recommend sleep.”

  I already knew where Carl was headed.

  Bar.

  My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten anything real all day. A hot burger sounded like heaven.

  We marched the mechs into the warehouse, knelt them down, and zipped out.

  Lexi fell in step beside me. “You hitting the hay?”

  “Food first,” I said. “Then sleep.”

  “Mind if I join?”

  “Sure.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Carl walked with us. “Don’t stay up too late. Midnight we’re on watch.”

  Frank stretched and yawned. “I’m crashing. Been marching all damn day.”

  Tamala nodded. “Same. I could eat though.”

  We stepped out of the warehouse.

  Across the street sat the inn. Next to it, a faded sign flickered:

  SAND LOVERS BURGERS & PUB

  Beside that, a small market—LeLa’s Food Mart.

  The rest were homes pressed together like they were afraid of the dark.

  The town felt… watched.

  We crossed the street and entered the pub.

  The place was quiet. Too quiet. A few locals sat scattered around, eyes low, conversations cut short when we walked in.

  Living in fear.

  A tired waitress approached, face tight, smile forced.

  “Seat yourselves,” she said, already turning away.

  We slid into a booth. The table wobbled.

  Menus slapped down without ceremony.

  Frank grinned. “Wow. Warm welcome.”

  “She loves us,” Lexi said.

  I stayed quiet, scanning the room. Old posters. Cracked walls. A faint smell of grease and recycled air.

  The waitress came back.

  “What’ll it be.”

  “Beer,” Carl said.

  “Beer,” Frank echoed.

  “Beer,” Lexi added.

  Tamala nodded. “Same.”

  I looked up. “Burger and a beer.”

  She scribbled and walked off without a word.

  They joked. Laughed. Frank told a dumb story about a mech falling through a bridge once. Lexi roasted him for ten minutes straight.

  I barely spoke.

  Didn’t want to.

  Didn’t want to get close.

  The waitress returned with food and drinks.

  We ate.

  A few minutes later she came back, eyes nervous. “You… you need to keep it down. You’re scaring the other customers.”

  Carl waved her off like she was nothing. “We’re fine.”

  She hesitated, then backed away.

  I didn’t like that.

  Didn’t like any of this.

  These weren’t my people—but they were starting to feel familiar.

  That scared me more than the silence outside.

  I finished my burger fast, slammed my beer.

  “I’m turning in,” I said, tossing credits on the table.

  Carl frowned. “You don’t wanna eat and drink with us?”

  “No. Just tired,” I replied. “Back’s stiff. Long march.”

  I walked out.

  Lexi followed.

  “Hey—Lock. Wait.”

  I stopped. “Yeah?”

  “You good?”

  “Yeah. Just tired.”

  She studied me. “Lighten up a little. We want to trust you—but you’re making it hard.”

  I sighed. “Noted. I’ll try.”

  She smiled. “Good. If not, I’ll kill you in your sleep.”

  She giggled—

  Then froze.

  Her hand snapped to her blaster.

  “What the hell do you want?” she snapped.

  I turned.

  A man stood there.

  Cowboy getup. Old Earth western style. Hat pulled low, face hidden.

  “You Lock McCloud?”

  “I don’t know who that is,” I said flatly.

  He reached for his blaster.

  BLAM.

  Lexi fired beside his foot, scorching the ground.

  “Move again and you’re dead,” she said.

  The man chuckled. “Name’s Zeek Stray. You’ve got a nice bounty on your head. Deserter. Traitor. Five thousand credits.”

  “Not much,” he added, “but it’ll do.”

  Carl stepped out of the pub with Tamala, both armed.

  “you gotta be snorting them space rocks to pick a fight with us.” Carl said. “Piss off!”

  Zeek shrugged. “Just looping you in. Flint Ta’s in town too. Big name. He’s hunting you. I followed him here to snag you first.”

  “Stealing bounties now?” I asked.

  “You could say that, but trust me he shoots to kill... You be better off coming with me instead.”

  I raised my blaster. “I’m not going with you—or anyone.”

  Zeek tipped his hat. “Suit yourself.”

  He walked off.

  Lexi watched him go. “We should’ve killed him.”

  Carl looked at me. “Well… guess there’s truth behind you leaving. Your own people put a price on you.”

  I shrugged. “Whatever.”

  I turned toward the inn.

  “Let’s get some rest.”

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